srivalmikiramayanam - balakanda - sarga - 8th and 9th

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

translation by

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection

Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 8

Introduction

Dasharatha decides to perform an elaborate Vedic ritual, called Aswametha yajna, Horse Ritual, to beget children. He being a considerate king in taking conscience of the courtiers, he discusses this aspect with the Vedic scholars and ministers of his court, beforehand.

tasya ca evam prabhaavasya dharmaj~nasya mahaatmanaH |
sutaartham tapya maanasya na asiit va.nshakaraH sutaH || 1-8-1

To him, to such an effectual and virtuously great-souled King Dasharatha, , a dynasty-enriching son is not begotten though his heart is burning to beget children. [1-8-1]

chintayaanasya tasya evam buddhiH aasiin mahaatmanaH |
sutaartham vaajimedhena kim artham na yajaami aham || 1-8-2

To that anguished great-soul, a thought occurred this way, "To beget sons, why should not I perform Horse ritual...[and thus appease the gods in order to beget worthy sons..."] [1-8-2]

sa nishchitaam matim kR^itvaa yaSTavyam iti buddhimaan |
ma.ntribhiH saha dharmaatmaa sarvaiH api kR^ita aatmabhiH || 1-8-3
tato.abraviit mahaatejaaH suma.ntram ma.ntri sattamam |
shiighram aanaya me sarvaan guruun taan sa purohitaan || 1-8-4

That intellectual and a conscientious king having resolved with all of his sagacious ministers that such a Vedic ritual is performable, then addressed best ne among ministers, namely Sumantra, ‘ fetch all my teachers and clerics, quickly...’ [1-8-3,4]

tataH suma.ntraH tvaritam gatvaa tvarita vikramaH |
sam aanayat sa taan sarvaan samastaan veda paaragaan || 1-8-5
suyaj~nam vaamadevam cha jaabaalim atha kaashyapam |
purohitam vashishhTham cha ye cha api anye dwijottamaaH || 1-8-6

Then Sumantra gone quickly, for he in quickness is a dauntless one, and fetched all of the clerics like Suyajna, Vaama Deva, Jaabala, Kshyapa, and even Sage Vashishta, and also those other eminent Brahman that are Vedic scholars. [1-8-5,6]

taan pUjayitvaa dharmaatmaa raajaa dasharathaH tadaa |
idam dharma artha sahitam shlakSNam vachanam abraviit ||1-8-7

Then on adoring them virtuous King Dasharatha spoke this impressible sentence that included justification and meaning. [1-8-7]

mama laalasya maanasya sutaartham naasti vai sukham |
tadartham hayamedhena yakshhyaami iti matir mama || 1-8-8

"My mind is tumultuous without quietude for I have no sons... for that reason, I wish perform Aswametha, Vedic Horse Ritual... this is my thinking... [1-8-8]

tat aham yaSTum icChami shaastra dR^iSTena karmaNaa |
katham praapsyaami aham kaamam buddhiH atra vichintyataam || 1-8-9

"Therefore, I contemplate to perform that ritual as enshrined in the scriptures and as a rite-oriented one as well... let this contemplation of mine be well thought of... and as to how my desire to beget sons will be fulfilled... [1-8-9]

tataH saadhu iti tadvaakyam braahmaNaaH pratyapUjayan |
vashishhTha pramukhaaH sarve paarthivasya mukheritam || 1-8-10

Then the Brahman scholars along with Sage Vashishta and all other important personalities in their turn have blessed and honoured him, saying that "splendid is this idea..." thus, for that which is voiced by the king. [1-8-10]

uuchuH cha parama priitaaH sarve dasharatham vachaH |
sa.mbhaaraaH sa.mbhriya.ntaam te turagaH cha vimuchyataam || 1-8-11

All of them becoming happy have also said to King Dasharatha, "let the paraphernalia be provided, and your ritual-horse be released... [1-8-11]

sarayvaaH ca uttare tiire yaj~na bhuumir vidhiiyataam |
sarvathaa praapsyase putraan abhipretaan cha paarthiva || 1-8-12
yasya te dharmikii buddhiH iyam putraartham aagataa |

"Oh, king, by all means you will beget sons as you desired, since you, to whom an upright thinking has suggested itself... let the ritual ground be arranged on the northern banks of River Sarayu...” So said the scholars. [1-8-12, 13a]

tataH tuSTo.abhavat raajaa shrutvaa tad dvija bhaaSitam || 1-8-13
amaatyaan abraviit raajaa harshha paryaakula lochana |
sa.mbhaaraaH sa.mbhriya.ntaam me guruuNaam vachanaat iha || 1-8-14

" Then King Dasharatha is gladdened on hearing the sayings of those Brahmans. And with happiness lurching on his eyes the king spoke to the ministers, "As advised by my Vedic teachers let the paraphernalia be procured... [1-8-13b, 14]

samartha adhiSThitaH cha ashvaH saH upaadhyaayo vimuchyataam |
sarayvaaH cha uttare tiire yaj~na bhUmir vidhiiyataam || 1-8-15

"On the northern banks of River Sarayu the ritual ground be arranged... and the Ritual-Horse be released monitored by capable warriors, along with the religious teachers...” So said the king. [1-8-15]

shaantayaH cha api vardhantaam yathaa kalpam yathaa vidhi |
shakyaH praaptum ayam yaj~naH sarveNa api mahiikshitaa || 1-8-16
na aparaatho bhavet kaSTo yadi asmin kratu sattame |

"Let peace invocations be prevailing and prospering, as ordained in the scriptures and tradition...if it is possible for the correct performance to obtain results of this ritual, and if it is possible to conduct this ritual without any difficult faults during its performance, then all the kings on earth would have performed it... [1-8-16, 17a]

cChidram hi mR^igayante sma vidvaa.mso brahma raakshasaaH || 1-8-17
vidhi hiinasya yaj~nasya sadyaH kartaa vinashyati |

"Scholarly Brahma-demons will be hunting for the faults alone in the course of this ritual... should the procedure of this ritual be depraved of its set rules, the performer gets ruined... [1-8-17b, 18a]

tadyathaa vidhi puurvam me kratureSa samaapyate || 1-8-18
tathaa vidhaanam kriyataam samarthaaH saadhaneSu iti |

"Therefore, you all shall see as to how this ritual of mine be conducted and concluded procedurally, and all of you are evidently experts in conducting such rituals... isn’t it! [1-8-18b, 19a]

Vedic Brahmans are to be very cautious and vigilant while performing the ritual in the order of ritual acts, faultless rendering of the Vedic hymns and other observant items of the Vedic canon. Should they by overconfidence or by negligence commit any mistake or fault, they take rebirth as Brahma-demons. After taking rebirth as such demons they, with their inherent jealousy and ire will always be hunting for such mistakes in other's ritual performances. If they cannot find one, they cause certain hindrances in that performance, so that the performer may commit mistakes and get ruined in the present life span and then take rebirth as Brahma-demon. Hence, every Vedic-ritual performer shall be vigilant.

tathaa iti cha abruvan sarve ma.ntriNaH pratipuujitaa || 1-8-19
paarthivendrasya tad vaakyam yathaa puurvam nishamya te |

On listening the words of the king all the ministers adored and assured him saying, ‘It will be conducted faultlessly as has been conducted earlier...” [1-8-19b, 20a]

tathaa dvijaaH te dharmaj~naa varthayato nR^ipottamam || 1-8-20
anuj~naataaH tataH sarve punar jagmur yathaa aagatam |

On hearing those words of that best king, and what that is spoken earlier, then the virtue knowing Brahman scholars hailing that best king took leave of him and wentaway as they have come. [1-8-20b, 21a]

visarjayitvaa taan vipraan sachivaan idam abraviit || 1-8-21
R^itvigbhiH upasa.ndiSTo yathaavat kratur aapyataam |

Then on sending off those Brahman scholars, the king spoke this way to the ministers... “As advised by the Vedic scholars this ritual shall be conducted, procedurally..." [1-8-21b, 22A]

iti uktvaa nR^ipa shaardUlaH sachivaan samupasthitaan || 1-8-22
visarjayitvaa svam veshma pravivesha mahaamatiH |

Tha tigerly-king and highly intellectual Dasharatha, on saying thus to his ministers who are still in his audience, sent away those ministers also, and he entered his palace. [1-8-22b, 23a]

tataH sa gatvaa taaH patniir narendro hR^idaya.ngamaaH || 1-8-23
uvaacha diikshaam vishata yaxe.aham suta kaaraNaat |

And on approaching his wives, that best king's heartily dear ones, he said to them, “ I am performing a Vedic ritual for the reason of begetting sons, and you all shall enter a vow...” [1-8-23b, 24a]

taasaam tena ati kaantena vachanena suvarchasaam |
mukha padmaan ashobhanta padmaaniiva himaatyaye || 1-8-24

On hearing those words of the king, the lustrous countenances of the queens have become more gleaming, like the blooming lotuses after the clearance of dew-fall. [1-8-24b, c]

iti vAlmIki rAmAyaNe Adi kAve aSTamaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 8th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 9

Introduction

Sumantra, the minister of King Dasharatha, details the importance of Sage Rishyasringa and beseeches the king to invite that sage to preside over the contemplated Vedic ritual, for that Sage's entry into any kingdom is auspicious for that land and people.

etat shrutvaa rahaH suuto raajaanam idam abravIt |
shruuyataam tat puraa vR^ittam puraaNe ca mayaa shrutam || 1-9-1

Sumantra, the charioteer and one of the misters of King Dasharatha, having heard all about the king's desire to perform a Vedic ritual, said this in confidence to king, "oh, king, I will tell an early legend, an early legendary narration that I listened... [1-9-1]

R^itvigbhiH upadiSTo.ayam puraa vR^itto mayaa shrutaH |
sanatkumaaro bhagavaan puurvam kathitavaan kathaam || 1-9-2
R^iSiiNaam sannidhau raajan tava putraaagamam prati |

"Oh, king, I have earlier heard of this present advice given to you by Vedic scholars, as godly Sage Sanatkumara has once narrated an account about the arrival of your sons in the presence of other sages, and sage Sanat Kumara said... [1-9-2, 3a]

kaashyapasya ca putro.asti vibhaaNDaka iti shrutaH || 1-9-3
R^iSyashR^i~Nga iti khyaataH tasya putro bhaviSyati |
sa vane nitya sa.mvR^iddho munir vanacaraH sadaa || 1-9-4

"He said that "Sage Kashyapa has a son known as Vibhaandaka, and his son will be the renowned Sage Rishyasringa, and that Sage Rishyasringa will grow up in forests, and will always be dwelling in forest... [1-9-3b, 4]

Here the word used by Sumantra is tava putra aagamam , it renders as 'the arrival of your sons', meaning that sons of King Dasharatha arrive from Heavens, but not through an ordinary parturition. Even earlier in time to that of Dasharatha, Sage Sanatkumara predicted the 'arrival' of Vishnu as Rama. The birth-event associated with Rishyasringa’s name is that he is born with a horn on the crown of his head. Thus he is named as Rishyasringa, i.e., em> R^iSi the Sage; shR^i~Nga horn; a Sage with a horn on his forehead at his birth time. This being the mythological import, he is an acme among sages, as shR^i~Nga also means a peak.

na anyam jaanaati viprendro nityam pitra anuvartanaat |
dvaividhyam brahmacaryasya bhaviSyati mahaatmanaH || 1-9-5

"Not knowing others, that Brahman the best, namely Rishyasringa, will always be abiding his father and he will follow celibacy of two kinds Brahmanical vows namely vratitva , praajaapatya ...

Or

Not knowing others that Brahman the best, will always be abiding his father, lest his renowned celibacy always praised by the Brahmans, will be hindered. [1-9-5]

The word dvaividhyam also means two kinds of celibacy, vratitva and prajaapatyam. One, as a bachelor and the other after marriage, voluntarily distancing away from his wife on certain forbidden days like full moon and new moon days, during daytime, eclipses, and other astronomical occurrences and some more. This kind of self-imposed celibacy is one way of observing sustained family planning methods, instead of resorting to medicaments. Here, this word is more nearer to mean 'hindrance', than to mean the 'two way celibacy' as deciphered by some commentators.

lokeSu prathitam raajan vipraiH cha kathitam sadaa |
tasya evam vartamaanasya kaalaH samabhivartata || 1-9-6

"In the world he becomes famous for his celibacy, oh king, and he will always be praised by Brahmans, and thus time will pass on with that kind of his conduct, [1-9-6]

agnim shushruuSamaaNasya pitaram cha yashasvinam |
etasmin eva kaale tu romapaadaH prataapavaan || 1-9-7
aa~NgeSu prathito raajaa bhaviSyati mahaabalaH |

Sage Rishyasringa looses no time with his servitor-ship to the Sacrificial Fire and also to his celebrated father, and during this period alone there will be a famed and very strong king Romapaada, a valiant in Anga country... [1-9-7, 8a]

tasya vyatikramaat raaj~no bhaviSyati sudaaruNaa || 1-9-8
anaavR^iSTiH sughoraa vai sarvaloka bhayaaavahaa |

"But by a violation of righteousness of that king there will be a shocking and devastating famine in that country...[1-9-8b, 9]

anaavR^iSTyaam tu vR^ittaayaam raajaa duHkha samanvitaH || 1-9-9
braahmaNaan shruta sa.mvR^iddhaan cha samaanIya pravakshyati |

"While the famine is besetting that king Roamapada will be afflicted with grim, and on summoning Brahmans and learned scholars he will address them... [1-9-9b. 10a]

bhavantaH shruta karmaaNo loka chaaritra vedinaH || 1-9-10
samaadishantu niyamam praayashcittam yathaa bhavet |

" ‘All of you are well versed in rituals and knowers of the world history... order me how to how the purification from sin will be... [1-9-10b, 11a]

iti uktaaH te tato raaj~naa sarve braahmaNa sattamaaH || 1-9-11
vakshyanti te mahiipaalam braahmaNaa veda paaragaaH |
vibhaaNDaka sutam raajan sarva upaayaiH iha aanaya || 1-9-12

" ‘Thus said by king those scholarly Brahmans and Vedic scholars will say to the king, 'oh, king, son of Sage Vibhaandaka, namely Rishyasringa, is to be fetched by all methods... [1-9-11b, 12]

aanaayya tu mahIpaala R^ishyashR^i~Ngam susatkR^itam |
vibhaaNDaka sutam raajan braahmaNam veda paaragam |
prayachchha kanyaam shaantaam vai vidhinaa susamaahitaH||1-9-13

"Oh! King, having brought Sage Rishyasringa and honouring him well with good care, procedurally give him your daughter Shanta in marriage to that Vedic Brahman and the son of Sage Vibhaandaka... [1-9-13]

teSaam tu vachanam shrutvaa raajaa chintaam prapatsyate |
kena upaayena vai shakyam iha aanetum sa vIryavaan || 1-9-14

"On listening them the king becomes thoughtful about the idea by which it is possible to bring that self-controlled sage to his place... [1-9-14]

tato raajaa vinishchitya saha ma.ntribhiH aatmavaan |
purohitam amaatyaam cha preSayiSyati satkR^itaan || 1-9-15

"Then that intellectual king decides along with ministers, to dispatch clergymen and ministers, honouring them well, and then sends them... [1-9-15]

te tu raaj~no vachaH shrutvaa vyathitaa vinata aananaaH |
na gacChema R^iSeH bhItaa anuneSyanti tam nR^ipam || 1-9-16

"They on hearing king's words are awestruck and lowering their faces they will say, 'we can not go there as we are afraid of sage Vibhandaka, father of Rishyasringa...' [1-9-16]

vakshSyanti chi.ntayitvaa te tasya upaayaam cha taan kshamaan |
aaneShyaamo vayam vipram na cha doSho bhaviShyati || 1-9-17

"After thinking over they will say as a second thought, and having found a solution with a plan to bring that sage, 'we will fetch that Brahman and also by that no stigma will occur...' [1-9-18]

evam a~Ngaadhipena eva gaNikaabhiH R^iSheH sutaH |
aanIto.avarShayat deva shaantaa cha asmai pradIyate || 1-9-18

"Thus by the king of Anga kingdom and by his courtesans the son of sage Rishyasringa will be brought and the presiding deity for rains will showers rains, and Shanta will also be given in marriage to that sage...’ [1-9-18]

R^iShyashR^i~NgaH tu jaamaataa putraan tava vidhaasyati |
sanatkumaara kathitam etaavat vyaahR^itam mayaa || 1-9-19

"Sage Rishyasringa, son-in-law of Romapaada, King of Anga ad as well as to you, if invited to our kingdom he will bless you to beget sons, oh! King... so said Sage Sanatkumaara to other sages and all this is retold by me." [Thus the charioteer and the Minister Sumantra completed his narration in confidence to King Dasharatha.] [1-9-19]

Comment: Sage Rishyasringa is also a son-in-law to King Dasharatha. Princess Shanta, in a distant relationship is a daughter to King Dasharatha in relation and the adopted daughter of Romapaada, the King of Anga. Thus Sumantra's saying son-in-law also means Dasharatha's son-in-law, besides Romapada’s.

atha hR^iSTo dasharathaH suma.ntram pratyabhaaShata |
yathaa R^iSyashR^i~NgaH tu aaniito yena upaayena sa ucchataam || 1-9-20

Then King Dasharatha is delighted and in turn spoke to Sumantra "By what idea Rishyasringa is brought to Anga kingdom, that shall be said..." [1-9-20]

iti valmIki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe navamaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 9th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

                                                  ( courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection  )